Prince Of Petworth » What The Helen of Troy Will This Be?

What The Helen of Troy Will This Be?

There is a huge hole in the middle of the city near the George Washington University campus. I mean it is huge. I’m dying to know what it’s slated to become. You can’t miss it but you’ll find it at the corner of 23rd and I Streets, NW. Anyone know what the story is here?

Updated from Wikipedia:

“Square 54 Redevelopment is a complex of high-rise buildings located in Washington, D.C., United States. The complex will serve as mixed-use, two buildings will be used for residential use, while the third building will serve as an office-building. The complex will be completed with three buildings, Square 54 Residential I, Square 54 Residential II, and Square 54 Office. Square 54 Residential I is expected to rise 48 metres (160 ft), featuring 14 floors.[1][2] Square 54 Residential II is expected to rise 44 metres (140 ft), featuring 12 floors.[3][4] Finally, Square 54 Office, is expected to rise 45 metres (150 ft), featuring 11 floors.[5][6] Construction of every building will be completed in 2010. Each building will be designed by the architect, Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects.”

Category: Development, Foggy Bottom

By: Prince Of Petworth | 19 May 2009 10:05 PM | 18 Comments

Reformed Somali Pirate

Dick Cheney’s new home.

Reformed Somali Pirate Tantum Eruditi Sunt Liberi

May 19, 2009 at 10:55 pm
Eric H.

Need to read DC Metrocentric:

http://dcmetrocentric.com/2009/05/11/gwu-construction-continues/

http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/07/10/heavy-equipment-rolls-at-gw/

Here are some of the project details:

http://dcmetrocentric.com/2008/05/20/gws-square-54-gets-ready/

May 19, 2009 at 10:56 pm
Anonymous

It’s Square 54, a massive mixed-use development.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Square_54_Redevelopment

The architect is also responsible for the terminal at National Airport…

May 19, 2009 at 10:57 pm
GW

PoP, have you been living under a rock? Sometimes it is good to pick-up the WashPo and get your news.

If you thought traffic was bad near GW, you have not seen anything yet!

May 19, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Prince Of Petworth

I prefer to get my news on my walks and from you guys! It is far more fun that way…

May 19, 2009 at 11:35 pm
LNic

… or huge “hole”.

May 19, 2009 at 11:50 pm
Prince Of Petworth

Oops. Thanks LNic!

May 19, 2009 at 11:52 pm
eric in ledroit

i don’t think traffic is bad near GW and am glad about this. it’s almost on top of a metro station. why the hell do people protest things like this?!?

May 20, 2009 at 5:13 am
murrayw76

That hole has been there at least as long as I’ve lived in the neighborhood (3+ years). As Anonymous mentioned, it’s going to be a mixed-use development with offices and residences, plus a rumor that the first floor will be home to a Giant supermarket. If that turns out to be true, looks like the West End Trader Joe’s and the Watergate Safeway (aka Senior Safeway) could have some competition.

http://washington.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/03/02/story11.html

I don’t know how the Business Journal could confuse that neighborhood with Georgetown, though…I mean, it’s across the street from the Foggy Bottom Metro!

May 20, 2009 at 8:33 am
steveg202

George Washington University owned project. Was the old GW hospital site until the new hospital across the street was completed and the old one demolished. This mixed use project is designed more to generate revenue than school classrooms.

As for neighborhood opposition this is typical. Foggy Bottom neighbors want a slow residential community and GWU keeps expanding. I think GWU is the 2nd largest DC landowner 2nd to the government. Project obv. approved. Though goal of a supermarket has been well documented GWU could get higher rents from other businesses. Odds are that if one goes in it is due to community pressure.

May 20, 2009 at 8:45 am
2b3s

More corporate development — just what DC needs.

May 20, 2009 at 9:12 am
Wayan

PoP,

Been photographing Square 54 for a while now as its near one of my jobs. Wild to see it go up slowly, now that they went down 50+ feet

May 20, 2009 at 9:46 am
Anonymous

I had my appendix removed at the old GW hospital just before it closed. It was a nasty place.

May 20, 2009 at 11:55 am
Eric

2b3s:

I’m trying to figure out who is going to develop things if not corporations. Individuals? I don’t get it.

May 20, 2009 at 12:43 pm
insider

Steve – just some clarifications:

GW owns the land. GW has nothing to do with the development itself. None of the buildings will be University use. Nor will they be student housing.

The GW landowner thing is not true. Ever seen AU? Catholic? Massive expanses of land, much more land than GW owns.

As for the supermarket, this is a requirement as part of the zoning order. There WILL BE a supermarket, it is nonnegotiable.

May 20, 2009 at 1:30 pm
John

Hey cool. I was born on that site in the old GW hospital in 1982. It seemed bigger then.

May 20, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Anonymous

One of the first floor tenants will be a grocery store, supposedly either an “Urban Safeway” like Mouth Vernon has, or another Harris Teeter.

May 21, 2009 at 12:13 pm
insider

Giant was the latest in negotiations with Boston Properties (the developer).

May 22, 2009 at 10:01 pm